attention last week along with the revelations that two Americans had been working at the Hamiltonian Island Club without permits.

Selling a product that involves a large outlay of money on the buyer's part requires more than a fast tongue, although that also plays a big part.

It is typical, therefore, for potential timeshare buyers to be offered a little enticement in the way of a free gift, which, in the case of the Hamiltonian, included either/or a $50 dinner certificate, a five-day moped rental, a dinner cruise and a golf package at Ocean View Golf Club.

Salesmen Alan Seif and Jack Naylon would approach tourists along Front Street and put forward their not to be missed, too good to be true, get them while their hot offer.

All they wanted in return was 90 minutes of a person's vacation time so they could show them around the timeshare project.

A look at the small print on the personal invitation forms circulated to the public reveals the type of people who were considered appropriate for the Hamiltonian, where units cost between $4,000 and $12,000 for one week per year for 25 years, with an annual maintenance fee of around $370/$380.

Qualifications for attending the presentation are, according to the invitations, a combined family income exceeding $35,000 per year, or $40,000 for singles, and an age over 28.

It adds: "If married, both husband and wife must attend the tour and. at the time of the tour, a major credit card is required.'' Sales staff received six percent commission for every sale successfully completed.

*** THE state-of-the-art design of the new Strands hair salon on Reid Street, while proving popular with most customers, has not proved to be everybody's cup of tea.

Full-length mirrors which have been set up directly in front of clients' chairs sometimes reveal more than they should, according to some lady clients, who say they have felt embarrassed or intimidated by the experience.

But the salon's co-owner Mr. William Mayo said the mirrors are part of a new concept in salon design.

"We've had comments good and bad,'' he told the Business Diary . "The mirrors are perceived by some people to be intimidating.

"The object of the mirrors are that the client can see not only their hair but the total look of the finished product.

"Nine out of ten of every salon I've seen in magazines over the last six months have them.

"The last thing I want for anyone to feel in my business is uncomfortable. I hope they will appreciate that this is a new concept and accept it as such.'' *** A GENEVA securities firm has come up with an ingenious new service for its clients -- the broking of shares in golf courses. Each share entitles the holder to life membership of a prestigious club and can be sold at whatever the market value is whenever the owner wants to get rid of it.

The idea came to Mr. Gerald Rimer, head of Swiss-based Index Securities, during a quiet period in the markets. He posts prices of the shares on screens normally used for trading Swiss bonds, enabling golfing financiers to invest in some of the area's finest courses.

Mr. Rimer, a keen golfer, said: "I did it because I have some friends who want to buy and others who want to sell and, being a broker, it seemed the natural thing to do.'' Prices begin at $15,000 and then members have to find money for green fees when they play.

Of course, just like clubs in Bermuda, Swiss courses reserve the right to bar members considered undesirable, although this rarely occurs in Switzerland where a more egalitarian approach is taken.

For the record, now might be an ideal time for any keen golfer to buy the shares. The share price of one of the golf clubs quoted on Mr. Rimer's trading screen has fallen by more than 50 percent recently.